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The War in the Air - Bombers: France

France was alone amongst the major belligerents in not developing a
multi-engined bomber during the war, but they were the first on the Western
Front to organize dedicated bomber units. The first bomber group, GB1,
was organized in September of 1914, comprising three Escadrilles (squadrons)
flying Voisin pusher aircraft.

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Carrying a bomb load of about 150 kg (330 lb), the Voisin had a steel frame
which made it extremely tough. It remained in production, through many
variations, throughout the war. The last variations could carry twice
the initial bomb load.

In Commandant Goÿs, GB1 had a brilliant leader and theoretician, who
developed the theory and practice of long range bombing sorties. Bomb
aiming techniques progressed from an arrangement of three nails hammered
into the cockpit, to the use of glass panes in the floor of the aircraft,
and then on to bombsights.

They built up target dossiers which were used for carefully planned raids.
Goÿs led an almost unopposed bombing campaign during the early months of
1915. On May 26th he led an attack against a
poison gas
factory near Mannheim. Of the 18 machines taking part, only Goÿs
himself failed to return, his Voisin forced down by mechanical failure.

Following the success of GB1 other bomber groups were formed. The
French continued to make large daylight bombing raids - with as many as 62
aircraft - throughout the summer and autumn of 1915, but unlike the freedom
of the skies they had enjoyed early in the year they were beginning to
suffer losses as the Germans gained control of the air during the period
known as the "Fokker
Scourge".

When accompanied by Nieuport Bebe fighters they were safer, but this
limited their range.

One such escort squadron was the escadrille La Fayette. This
was a squadron of American volunteer fighter pilots flying for the French.
They were attached to bomber group four, flying Maurice Farman bombers,
which was commanded by Capitanne Happe.

This charismatic commander had introduced the use of formation flying to
increase his bomber's safety, and he led many notable raids. His
attack against the Aviatik factory at Freibug-im-Breisgau was so successful
that the factory was relocated to Leipzig. During a three plane raid
against Rothweil Happe encountered
Oswald Boelcke in the air,
but managed to fight him off.

After this raid, and much to Happe's own delight, the Germans put a price of
25,000 Marks on his head. He responded by dropping them a note from
his aircraft, thanking them and informing them that his aircraft could
easily be recognized because he had painted his wheels red.

Despite Happe's bravado, by 1916 the Armee de l'Air was forced to
carry out almost all its long range bombing by night. It was only in
1917, when the Breguet 14 appeared at the front, did the French have a
potent enough machine to return to daylight bombing. This was one of
the first aircraft built that made extensive use of duralumin in the frame,
making it extremely strong.

It was also France's first tractor bomber. Its 300hp engine gave it a
top speed of 195 km/h (122 mph), slightly faster than the Fokker D VII.
It was built in both reconnaissance and bomber varieties, the latter
carrying a maximum bomb load of 260kg (570 lb). Over 5,000 were
produced during the war, and production continued as late as 1928.